Hot water heater and dispenser



Jan. 7, 1969 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,420,414

HOT WATER HEATER AND DISPENSER Filed April 24, 1967 Sheet INVENTOR WILLIAM C. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE Byzgwjjr ATTORNEY HOT WATER HEATER AND DISPENSER Sheet Filed April 24, 1967 8 5 8 4 4 I I 7 5 5 3 6 5 M N 4 h 5 5 m 4 E I I w in, F I 3 I I I II I I 1x I 5 3 3 O 4 6 FIG. 2

Jan. '7, 1969 w. c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,420,414

HOT WATER HEATER AND DISPENSER Filed April 24, 1967 sheet 3 of 5 FIG. 4

47 I 448 FIG. 5 44 F INVENTOR WlLLlAM C. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1969 w c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,420,414

HOT WATER HEATER AND DISPENSER Filed April 24, 1967 Sheet 4 of 5 INVENTOR 45 WILLIAM C. CHRISTINE JOSEPH E. PIERCE fi 2 ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1969 w. c. CHRISTINE ET AL 3,420,414

HOT WATER HEATER AND DISPENSER Filed April 24, 1967 Sheet 5 of 5 I27 "8" \i? T HI H4 H7 IE5 3% -l22 P 1 H2 gg I28 INVENTOR 46 4e WILLIAM c. CHRISTINE FIG. I?) JOSEPH E. PIERCE ATTORNEY United States Patent F ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for providing hot water to be used for dissolving powdered food products and the like, and wherein the apparatus is constructed and operates so that it provides continuous hot water, and wherein there is provided a control mechanism for delivering a premeasured portion of hot water at the touch of a button.

The present invention relates to a hot water heater and dispenser for use in various locations such as offices or other commercial or domestic locations, and wherein there is provided an electrically operated water heater which provides automatically and instantly premeasured portions of hot water at the touch of a button.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water heater and dispenser which provides continuous instant hot water for use in making hot beverages from powdered food products, and wherein in one form of the invention there is provided a quantity control mechanism so that there will be delivered one premeasured portion of hot water at the touch of a button.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described that is generally economical to produce, durable in form, efiicient in operation and conducive to the most economical materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram for the unit of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a modification.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram for the modified or alternative form of the invention of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9. is a front elevational view of a further modification.

FIG. 10 is a view generally similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the modification of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic wiring diagram of the modification of FIGS. 9-12.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, the numeral 30 indicates a continuous instantaneous hot water heater and dispenser of the present invention which includes a hollow housing which is indicated generally by the numeral 31,

3,420,414 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 and the housing 31 includes spaced parallel vertically disposed walls 32, vertically disposed back wall 33 and a front wall. The front wall includes a vertically disposed upwardly positioned front wall portion 34, an inclined front wall portion 35 that has an opening 36 therein, and a vertically disposed front wall section 37. The housing 31 may also include a horizontally disposed bottom wall 38 which has a recessed cup-receiving section 39 in the front thereof for receiving a cup such as a cup 40 that is to be used for making a beverage such as hot coifee, tea, chocolate, soups or the like by having powdered food products mixed or dissolved in the hot water produced by the present invention.

Arranged in the lower portion of the housing 31 is a vertically disposed support piece 41, and the numeral 42 indicates a hollow heater tank which is arranged in the lower portion of the housing above the support piece 41, and the tank 42 is adapted to have suitable insulation 43 surrounding the same as, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Arranged in the heater tank 42 is a generally coiled heater element 44 which is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy and into the electrical circuit by means of conductors 45.

The electrical circuit further includes a manual off and on switch 46 as well as a manual push button 47 which are conveniently mounted in the wall portion 34 of the housing as, for example, as shown in FIG. 1. The numeral 48 indicates a solenoid valve for selectively controlling of hot water as later described in this application.

The numeral 60 indicates a water reservoir or container which is positioned in the upper portion of the housing 31, and a conduit 49 establishes communication between the lower portion of the container 60 and the bottom of the heater tank 42. The numeral 50 indicates a vent line of tube which is connected to the upper portion of the heater tank 42 as shown in FIG. 4. There is further provided a removable lid or cover 51 which is mounted on the upper portion of the housing 31, and a jar or hollow member or bottle 54 is adapted to be filled with water and then arranged in an inverted position so that the reduced diameter neck portion 55 of the bottle 54 extends down through an opening 52 in the lid 51in order to supply the desired quantity of water to the reservoir or container 60. A resilient gasket 53 is mounted on the edge portion of the lid 51 in the vicinity of the opening 52 to engage the adjacent portions of the water jar 54.

The numeral 56 indicates a water outline which is connected to the upper portion of the heater tank 42, and the water outline 56 may be retained in place on the wall 37 by means of a fitting 57, and the solenoid valve 48 serves to selectively control the flow of water from the line 56 out through the discharge nozzle 58 into the cup 40.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, wherein there is illustrated a modified or alternative construction which has substantially the same construction and operation as the previously described unit of FIGS. 1-5. However, in FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown and provided a means for automatically and instantly delivering one predetermined portion of hot Water at the touch of a button. This is accomplished by providing in the electrical circuit a timer motor 61 which rotates a shaft 62 that extends through a fixed horizontally disposed platform or plate member 63.

The shaft 62 has a disc 64 mounted thereon, and formed integral with the disc 64 is a lug 65 which is adapted to coact with a stop member 66 on a bracket 67. The bracket 67 is adapted to be suitably affixed to the platform 63 as by means of securing elements such as the screws 74. The numeral 68 indicates a movable arm which is mounted on the rotary shaft 62, and the arm 68 has a curved or arcuate cam surface 69 for selectively engaging a movable plunger or switch element 72 of the switch 71, and there is further provided a manual push button 73 for the switch 71. The numeral 70 indicates a retainer or securing element or nut which is adapted to be used for maintaining the parts such as the arm 68 and disc 64 in their proper adjusted assembled relation on the shaft 62, and the element may be loosened to adjust these parts and may be tightened to maintain these parts in their desired location. The numeral 75 indicates a spring member which has one end thereof anchored to the platform 63 as at 76.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a continuous instantaneous hot water heater and dispenser which is especially suitable for making and providing quantities of hot water that is to be used for mixing with or dissolving powdered food products such as coffee, chocolate, tea, soups and the like. These powdered food products may be supplied in individual packets with the proper quantity of food product in one packet.

being sufiicient to form one cup of hot beverage when mixed with the amount of hot water provided with the present invention.

When using the present invention a cup such as a cup 40 is adapted to be conveniently arranged in the recessed portion 39 of the machine, and the lower front portion of the machine is cut away or recessed as at 80 to provide sufficient clearance to permit the cup to be placed in position or removed therefrom. The hot water heater of FIGS. 1-5 is indicated generally by the numeral 30 and in FIG. 6 the device is indicated generally by the numeral 77.

With the machine connected to a suitable source of electrical energy as by means of wires or conductors 45, to use the machine the parts are arranged as shown in the drawings. That is, the bottle 54 is initially filled with water and the bottle 54 is arranged in an inverted position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 so that its neck portion 55 extends down through the opening 52 and communicates with the interior part of the chamber 60. The bottle 54 is thus supported in this position due to the construction of the parts, including the lid 51. Water from the bottle 54 flows into the chamber 60 to fill the chamber 60, and from the chamber 60 the water enters the heater tank 42 through the pipe or conduit 49 and the tank 42 thus remains filled with water and the water is prevented from entering the discharge nozzle 58 due to the provision of the normally closed solenoid valve 48.

When using the machine the on and off switch 46 is initially manually actuated so as to complete the electrical circuit from the input lines 45 to the heater 44, and after a few minutes the water in the tank 42 is heated to the desired temperature. Then, when it is desiredto dispense a quantity of water into the cup 40 for use in making the hot beverages, it is only necessary to manually depress the push button switch 47, and this completes the circuit to the solenoid valve 48 to open the same. The switch 47 is depressed until such time as the desired quantity of water has been discharged through the outlet pipe 56 down through the discharge nozzle 58 into the cup 40. After the desired amount of hot water has been dispensed into the cup 40 the switch 47 is released and the solenoid valve 48 closes so that no further hot water will be dispensed until the water button 47 is again manually depressed. After the cup 40 has been filled with the desired quantity of hot water it is adapted to be moved to the desired location to be consumed by the user and then additional cups can be arranged in position beneath the nozzle 58 ready to receive more hot water as needed or desired. The vent tube 50 establishes communication between the top of the heater tank 42 and the atmosphere so as to prevent the formation of vacuum pressure and thereby permits the water to flow out or be dispensed in the desired manner. Pressure of the water in the bottle 54 and in the container 60 serves to exert sufiicient pressure on the water in the tank 42 to force or urge the hot water out through the outlet pipe 56 and then through the nozzle 58, and the solenoid valve 48 is opened as the button 47 is pressed, as previously described. When the bottle 54 becomes empty the bottle can be readily lifted from its normal location on the machine and then the bottle 54 can be refilled and replaced on the machine so that the present invention can be continuously used.

In the modification of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 there is provided a continuous instant hot water heater with a quantity control from each touch of the button 73. This quantity control is accomplished by providing the timer motor 61 and its associated parts so that when the button 73 is manually pressed, the switch 71 will be closed and the motor 61 will be energized to wind the spring 75, and at the same time as the timer motor 61 is energized the shaft 62 will be rotated, and since the shaft 62 has secured thereto the arm 68 and disc 64 it will be seen that as the shaft 62 is rotated the arm 68 and disc 64 will likewise be rotated therewith. As the arm 68 is rotated, its curved cam surface 69 moves into engagement with the switch element 72 to electrically actuate the parts, and interrupt the electrical circuit whereby subsequently the tension of the spring 75 can rotate the shaft 62 in the opposite direction until the lug 65 of the disc 64 strikes or engages the stop member 66 of the bracket 67. The effect of this arrangement is that there will be automatically and instantly delivered one premeasured portion of hot water at the touch of the button 73.

In addition, there is provided a means for adjusting the quantity of water delivered by the control mechanism 85, and this adjusting means includes the nut or fastener 70 which can be loosened to permit the relative location of the arm 68 and disc 64 to be varied or changed as desired, and after these parts have been moved to their desired location the nut can be tightened to maintain the parts in their proper assembled position.

It will therefore be seen that the device of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 operates in generally the same manner as the previously described device of FIGS. 1-5 and has substantially the same construction. However, the machine 77 of FIGS. 6-8 has the control mechanism for automatically and instantly delivering one premeasured portion of hot water at the touch of a button.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes. The present invention is adapted to be used for making beverages from instant powdered food products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, soups and the like. The device 30 of FIGS. l-5 provides continuous instant hot water. The device 77 of FIGS. 6-8 is a deluxe version of the unit 30 with a quantity control provided with each tap of the button 73. The device will dispense a large amount of drinks in a very short .period of time and is especially convenient for parties, banquets, demonstrations, waiting rooms and the like. The unit has a large capacity and is an instant hot water beverage unit which will give trouble-free service. The bottle 54 can be filled with ordinary tap water and will instantly provide continuous hot water. The unit is attractively designed and constructed and occupies a minimum amount of space and is relatively light in weight. The instant beverages are made by mixing the hot water with ingredients from a package or small packet that contains the exact testblended ingredients to make one portion, and such packets are adapted to be hermetically sealed in aluminum foil in a sanitary manner. Such packets have all ingredients blended in one packet and no additional mix is required.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-13 of the drawings, there is illustrated a further modification which includes a means for dispensing predetermined quantities of hot water such as l /z-oz. portions or 6-oz. portions as desired or required. This arrangement is especially suitable and advantageous for use in making the Italian type of Expresso coffee. In the arrangement of FIGS. 9-13 the numeral indicates generally the hot water heater and dispenser of the present invention which includes a housing 31, a water bottle or jar 54, an on and off master switch 46 that is adapted to be illuminated when properly depressed. There is further provided a pair of push buttons or switch units 91 and 92 which are adapted to be manually depressed for dispensing different portions of hot water such as 1% oz. or 6 oz. of hot water and the like. The machine 90 further includes a solenoid 48 similar to that previously described, a water outlet 56 and a discharge spout 58 as well as an electrical circuit that includes input wires or lines 45, and the unit of FIGS. 9-13 can be used in 220 volt electrical systems.

The mechanism 93 indicates a microswitch having a movable element 94 adapted to be engaged or actuated by a contact piece 95 which has a shoulder or projection 96 thereon, FIG. 12.

There is further provided upper and lower timing motors 97 and 98 with the upper motor 97 adapted to drive a gear train unit 99. Such gear train unit drives a shaft 100 having a cam 101 mounted on its lower end which is adapted to selectively engage the projection 96 and actuate the microswitch 93. The lower motor 98 drives an upwardly extending shaft 102 having a cam 103 mounted on its upper end in spaced relation to the cam 101. Operation of the motor 98 will cause the cam 103 to engage the projection 96 and actuate the microswitch 93. Actuation of the microswitch will open a circuit, as will be described later, and stop the motor 97 or 98. The upper and lower motors are provided with spring members 104 and 105 respectively connected to the shafts 100 and 102 to return the cams 101 and 103 to inoperative position after the circuit has been broken.

Since the input lines 45 provide 220 v.. a 220 v. heating unit is located within the heating tank and supplied with electrical energy directly from the lines 45. In order to reduce the electrical energy input to the remaining electrical elements. a step-down transformer 111 is provided which reduces the voltage to 110 v.

When the push button 91 is depressed energy or an electric current flows from the transformer 111 through a line 112 to a first relay 113 having arms 114 and 115 and a coil 116. The current then flows along a line 117 to a second relay 118 having arms 119 and 120 and a coil 121 and through the arm 119 and a line 122 to the push button switch 91. Such switch completes a circuit through a line 123 to the motor 97 and a line 124 back to the transformer 111. Simultaneously, current will fiow through a line 125 to energize the coil 116 and complete a circuit through a line 126 having the microswitch 93 therein and connected to the line 124. The energizing of the coil 116 will close the arms 114 and 115 and cause current to flow through a line 127 to hold the coil 116 closed until the microswitch 93 is opened by the cam 101 which will dc-energize the coil 116 and open the circuit. As long as the relay 113 is closed, current will flow through a line 128 to energize the solenoid 48 and permit water to flow through the discharge spout 58 until approximately 1% oz. have been dispensed.

When the push button switch 92 is depressed, current will flow through the line 112 to the relay 113 and through the arm 114 to a line 130 connected through the relay 118 to the switch 92. Such switch completes a circuit through a line 131 to the motor 98 and the line 124 back to the transformer 111. Simultaneously, current will fiow through a line 132 to energize the coil 121 and complete a circuit through a line 133, line 126 and microswitch 93 to the line 124. The energizing of the coil 121 will close the arm 119 and 120 and cause the current to flow through a line 134 to hold the coil 121 closed until the microswitch 93 is opened by the cam 103 which is rotated by the motor 98. When the coil 121 closes the arms 119 and 120, current will flow through a line 135 to energize the solenoid 48 and permit hot water to flow through the discharge spout 58 until approximately 6 oz. have been dispensed.

With the above arrangement of electrical elements, when one of the push button switches 91 or 92 is depressed, the circuit associated with such switch will remain closed until the microswitch 93 is opened. If the other push button switch or the same push button switch is depressed accidentally or otherwise while a circuit is closed it will have no effect and the switch must be depressed again after the closed circuit has been opened.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hot water heater and dispenser, a hollow housing including spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls, a vertically disposed back wall, a front wall comprising a vertically disposed front wall, an inclined front wall portion and a vertically disposed front wall section; and said housing further including a horizontally disposed bottom wall, a recessed cup receiving section in the front portion of said bottom wall, a vertically disposed support piece in said bottom wall, a vertically disposed piece in the lower portion of said housing, a hollow heater tank in the lower portion of said housing above said support piece, a coiled heater element positioned within said heater tank and adapted to be electrically connected to a source of supply of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including an on and ofl? switch mounted on the front wall of said housing, a solenoid valve and a timer switch in said circuit, a water reservoir chamber in the upper portion of said housing, a conduit establishing communication between the lower portion of said reservoir chamber and the bottom of said heater tank, a vent tube connected to the upper portion of said heater tank, a removable lid on said housing, a water bottle having an end portion thereof communicating with the reservoir chamber, a water outlet line connected to the upper portion of said heater tank and having said solenoid valve connected thereto, and a discharge nozzle depending from said solenoid valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,646,189 7/ 1953 Wickesberg.

3,036,740 5/1962 Smith 222-70 X 3,143,636 8/1964 Lupoyici.

3,178,557 4/1965 Urnann.

3,218,955 11/1965 Lorang 222--70 X 3,247,940 4/1966 Christine ct 9.1.

3,248,009 4/1966 Sutton et a1 222-70 X 3,326,417 6/1967 Tinsley 222-54 7 ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,420,414 January 7, 1969 William C. Christine et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5,

"assignors to Allen Electronics, Inc. Bethlehem, Pa. a corporation of Pennsylvania" should read assignors, by mesne assignments, to A. E. I. Corporation, Bethlehem, Pa., a

corporation of Delaware Signed and sealed this 10th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

